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Author Topic: Elm Tree Advice  (Read 1948 times)

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Offline BrokenArrow

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Elm Tree Advice
« on: October 15, 2014, 12:12:38 pm »
I have cut what I believe to be an American Elm tree into four quarters and have removed bark down to sap wood.
This weekend I used a hatchet and draw knife to rough out 3 of them and I worked down the fourth even further.
The moisture level varies between 9% and 18% in the 3 staves with the fourth a bit lower on average. The tree when cut was around 35% moisture a couple months ago.
I know the staves will dry faster this way.
At what moisture level should I finish the bows?
Does Elm steam bend easily? How well does it heat bend?
I am leaving the sapwood as the backing. Is this advisable or do some go down to the hard wood as a backing?

Thanks
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Offline PatM

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Re: Elm Tree Advice
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2014, 12:19:58 pm »
Sounds more like Slippery Elm if you're noticing a lot of Heartwood.
 Elm likes to be dry and it takes steam and heat very well.
 Just leave the outer ring as the back. No need to remove anything.
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Offline JackCrafty

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Re: Elm Tree Advice
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2014, 01:11:05 pm »
I always keep the sapwood on elm.  The kind we have in my area  ( winged elm, I think)  is very flexible and the resulting bows are way thicker than osage, for example.  I like elm a lot.
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Elm Tree Advice
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2014, 02:09:40 pm »
I made my good friend an all heart wood elm long bow last winter. I backed it with rawhide for fear of the unknown. As far as I know its still alive and shoots quite well. It doesn't weight a pound total.
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Offline sleek

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Re: Elm Tree Advice
« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2014, 01:20:22 pm »
Any pics of the staves? Specifically the heartwood/sapwood?
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